Great Neck residents are going to be very happy at the end of this month. The Great Neck Record captured some behind-the-scenes photos of the construction at 40 Great Neck Rd. and learned that Best Market is slated to open in Waldbaum’s old home on Friday, Jan. 29. Customers will be greeted by bright walls, new flooring—and lots of familiar faces.
Store manager Jay Schwartz, who’s been employed by Best Market for the past few years in Huntington and New Hyde Park, worked at Waldbaum’s for 29 years, most recently in nearby Douglaston.
“When the Douglaston store closed, the employees came here to Great Neck,” said Schwartz.
On Jan. 6 and 7, Schwartz interviewed potential employees for the new grocery. “I’m seeing lots of the same people who I worked with 10 years ago,” said Schwartz.
Devi Shah, who worked at Waldbaum’s in Great Neck for 14 years, is hoping to be hired by Best Market. She completed the online application and was hopeful as she waited to meet with Schwartz.
Shah predicts that Best Market will need plenty of employees, probably three shifts, to staff the new store, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Schwartz is guessing that he’ll need approximately 120 employees.
The family-owned regional supermarket chain had been operating 16 of its 20 stores on Long Island prior to purchasing an additional 10 stores from Waldbaum’s parent company as A&P auctioned off its groceries as part of its Chapter 11 proceedings.
“We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve Great Neck and look forward to bringing our fresh, healthy, ‘better for you’ brand to new customers,” said Rebecca Philbert, Best Market CEO and president. “We like getting to know our neighbors so we can better serve their needs.”
Seems like the Jan. 29 opening will be worth the wait.
To read about the Waldbaum’s saga, click here.
To find out when Best Market will really open, click here.
